MP in search for more charity superheroes

MP Mike Weir is on hunt for more bone marrow donors.

MP Mike Weir is backing the search for ‘superheroes’ for the Anthony Nolan charity.

The charity is searching for more young people in Angus to join their bone marrow register in the fight against blood cancer.

It has been revealed that in Angus there are more than 589 selfless people willing to donate their stem cells, or bone marrow, to save the life of a stranger. More than 525,000 people are currently on the Anthony Nolan register and the average per constituency is 796.

Anthony Nolan, now in its 40th anniversary year, was the world’s first bone marrow register. The blood cancer charity has been saving lives for four decades by matching remarkable people willing to donate their bone marrow to patients in desperate need of a transplant. Two thirds of UK patients will not find a matching donor from within their families; instead they turn to Anthony Nolan to find them an unrelated donor. But the charity can currently only find a match for around half of those who to come to them in desperate need, and they still urgently need more people to come forward.

Mr Weir said: “I have 589 heroes on the register here in Angus but the challenge continues. The more people who sign up the greater the chance of finding a match. It is something truly heroic to give a stranger a second chance at life. This is why I’m proud to champion this cause to my constituents.’

Ann O’Leary, head of Register Development at Anthony Nolan, said: ‘We are delighted that Mike has been inspired to encourage others to sign up as donors. Donating is an incredibly selfless thing to do and will give someone with blood cancer their best chance at survival. What many people don’t realise is that it is also surprisingly simple.’

To join the Anthony Nolan register you must be 16-30 and in good health. It involves filling out a simple online form and spitting into a tube.

Be a hero and find out how you can help by going to www.anthonynolan.org/superhero